Alejandro Garnacho’s stunning overhead kick helped Manchester United maintain their status as the Premier League’s best team with victory over Everton at lively Goodison Park.
Everton fans protested against the club’s 10-point deduction before and during the game, holding up placards reading “corrupt” before kick-off and in the 10th minute.
After being stunned by Garnacho’s acrobatic opener, Everton had the greater attacking threat but went 2-0 down when Ashley Young fouled Anthony Martial in the penalty area (VAR Chris Kavanagh urged referee John Brooks to overturn his decision to award the United striker a one-on-one To book a diving jump, reconsider) and Marcus Rashford (not Bruno Fernandes) converted the penalty.
Martial scored his ninth goal against Everton, United’s third of the game, to secure their first Premier League win of the season by more than a goal. They have now won five of their last six games, taking 15 points, more than any other team in that period.
Everton are now in second-to-last place with four points.
Here, The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell and Sebastian Stafford-Bloor analyze the game.
Was Garnacho’s overhead kick the best the Premier League has ever seen?
Gary Neville, sitting high in the commentary booth at Goodison Park, knew he was starting a debate by describing Garnacho’s acrobatic strike as the best of its kind he had ever seen. Even better than Wayne Rooney’s, he insisted. That Rooney goal No further description is needed for people to recognize the moment in question – a sign of its uniqueness. But instinctively you have the feeling that Garnacho’s will achieve the same reputation.
In terms of technique, both are similar, with the player shuffling backwards and turning his body at an angle to meet the ball, but Garnacho’s strike was cleaner, with Rooney famously bouncing off his shin. There was a bit of that at Garnachos, but also some boat. Garnacho also had less time to react as Diogo Dalot’s cross was fired quicker than Nani’s, which was deflected.
Perhaps this is a separate argument, but the setup also arguably gives Garnacho an added advantage. Victor Lindelof’s pass to Marcus Rashford to start the move was great.
Garnacho’s wonderful overhead kick (Getty Images)
Rooney had a larger context: he won a Manchester derby in a season in which United were on their way to the Premier League title. But Garnacho’s performance was also important – undermining Everton’s vaunted start in a game that Erik ten Hag’s side needed to win to stay close to the Champions League places.
Ten Hag had a good view of the goal and served his touchline ban by watching from the coaching box between technical director Darren Fletcher, who played in that Rooney game in 2011, and new interim chief executive Patrick Stewart.
As for all the other contenders for the best overhead kick the Premier League has ever seen: Sebastien Haller’s (vs Crystal Palace) in 2020, Dimitar Berbatovs (vs Liverpool) in 2010, Christian Bentekes (vs Manchester United) in 2015, Andy Carroll (vs Palace). ) in 2017 and Emre Cans (against Watford) in 2017 are all worth mentioning. But Garnachos had a special blend of power, distance and speed.
Laurie Whitwell
How did Mainoo fare in his first Premier League start?
If the pre-season had gone differently, Kobbie Mainoo would have started a Premier League game earlier. He started and put in an excellent performance against Arsenal in New Jersey, then again in the friendly against Real Madrid in Houston, a sign of how much Ten Hag thinks of the 18-year-old. But a knee injury sustained in that game in July kept Mainoo out until recently.
For Ten Hag, Mainoo’s selection at a frenzied Goodison Park was a testament to the midfielder’s qualities and his composure clearly stood out. As a schoolboy, Mainoo was a star of the United team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2022, but this was another level. Despite the hectic pace of the competition, he was never in a rush, not even when he received the ball from a deep position from Andre Onana. He also tried to turn and play forward instead of passing backwards.
Sensing danger wisely, he slid in to deny Idrissa Gana Gueye goal as Dwight McNeill’s shot rolled towards the line and then, moments later, flew to keep out a shot from McNeill as Everton increased the pressure.
Mainoo was also effective higher up, at one point picking up the ball from Dalot in a pocket of space and getting into the penalty area after exchanging passes with Marcus Rashford.
When Mainoo was substituted in the 72nd minute he received congratulations from Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay and Ten Hag will be hoping he now has a mobile player for the No.6 position.
Mainoo clears the ball off the line (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Laurie Whitwell
How did Everton react on the pitch to the 10-point penalty?
The tone of Everton’s response was what everyone expected. The crowd was angry and partisan. Posters denouncing the Premier League’s decision adorned the stands and fireworks crackled in the sky above Goodison Park. The tenor of the day turned it into a football game that was played as part of a protest event.
The players were also animated on the pitch. Garnacho’s fabulous goal may have been good enough to sap the day’s oxygen, but Everton quickly recovered in the aftermath – so much so that United could barely hold on to the lead for the rest of the half. In the first half they failed to move or even retain the ball in any meaningful way and resorted to long, direct finishes that lured Everton back to them.
Referee Brooks checks the VAR screen (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
And that would have had to be costly. Everton’s football was full of heart but also imagination and they created enough chances to at least equalize at the break, perhaps even take the lead. The VAR review that led to Manchester United’s penalty understandably dampened the faith of Sean Dyche’s players somewhat in the second half, but Goodison continued to simmer and bubble long after the points were lost.
Sebastian Stafford Bloor
What did Ten Hag, Dyche and Garnacho say?
Erik ten Hag: “The start of the game, very good. A very good team goal, the finish was incredible – world class. Probably the goal of the season. Great moment.
“Then we became passive and Everton were in the game. We corrected it at half-time and were very good. We were proactive, took the initiative and scored great goals.”
Garnacho, who was named player of the match by Sky Sports, said: “Honestly I can’t believe it. I didn’t see how it came in. I just listened. I said, ‘Oh my God.’ For me it’s one of the best goals I’ve ever scored. Yes, probably (one of the goals of the season), but it’s only November.”
Sean Dyche: “They started the game with a world-class player who put us on the defensive. We played well in the first half and had good chances, so I was happy with the half.
“Then they get a penalty early on and the VAR becomes so complex. I feel bad for the fans and the referee stares at the screen and we know the result.
“The way the modern game is, they say it’s a penalty. But we see it all the time and that’s what the game has become now.”
What’s next for Everton?
Saturday December 2nd: Nottingham Forest (A), Premier League 5:30pm GMT, 12:30pm ET
What’s next for Manchester United?
Wednesday, November 29th: Galatasaray (A), Champions League, 5:45 p.m. GMT, 12:45 p.m. ET
United travel to Turkey desperate for three points to get their Champions League campaign back on track. A defeat could see them eliminated from the competition.
Saturday December 2nd: Newcastle (A), Premier League, 8:00 p.m. GMT, 3:00 p.m. ET
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(Top photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)